Speaker Biographies
Chris Demetriou, Assistant Director of Corporate Fleet, Transport & Accessible Community Transport, London Borough of Islington
Chris Demetriou is the Assistant Director of Corporate Fleet, Transport & Accessible Community Transport at the London Borough of Islington. As the council’s operator’s license holder, he oversees a fleet of over 550 vehicles. A key priority for Chris is the council’s fleet electrification program, which aims to transition existing vehicles to full battery electric models in alignment with the council’s 2030 net-zero commitment.
With over 20 years of public service experience in local government, Chris is deeply passionate about environmental issues. He is dedicated to achieving Islington Council’s ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by both reducing and replacing the current internal combustion engine fleet with full battery electric vehicle equivalents. Islington Council is a leader in phasing out fossil-fuelled vehicles, having already implemented innovative technologies such as the award-winning ‘upcycling’ of end-of-life diesel refuse collection vehicles to electric, as well as Vehicle-to-Load & Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) refuse collection vehicles which have powered various events across the borough. Additionally, Islington was the first local authority to operate 6 x 7.5-ton electric cage tippers and a fully accessible community transport bus.
Chris’s forward-thinking approach extends to various related projects, including wider Vehicle-to-Grid technology, solar PV, and energy storage systems. His ambition is to transform the council’s main fleet depot into a micro-grid in the future.
Richard Foster, B2B Business Manager, The AA
With more than 20 years’ experience in the fleet sector, Richard’s extensive knowledge of the industry comes from roles across Fleet Management, Rental & Car, Van and Commercial vehicle breakdown. His experience includes working with organisations including GE and FMG Support. In 2011, Richard joined The Automobile Association (AA), as a Senior Account Manager and has continued to look after and proactively support and develop a portfolio of major fleet accounts, including Logistics UK.
Annie Graham, Apprenticeship Manager, Logistics UK
Annie Graham is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working within education management, particularly apprenticeships and unemployed provision. Annie has extensive knowledge of quality management within the educational and apprenticeship sector, with her main focus on driving forward Logistics UK’s internal and external apprenticeship offerings with members and associated businesses.
Kevin Green, Director of Policy and Communications, Logistics UK
Kevin has been an Executive Director with Logistics UK for several years and has been pivotal in modernising and developing the organisation’s strategy, alongside formulating and improving the effectiveness of messaging, policy themes and influencing, member engagement, industry asks and campaigns.
Kevin has a strong blue-chip corporate background, with a significant focus on Transport and Logistics, and ground-breaking public/private partnerships.
Andy Hill JP, MSOE, MIRTE, Commercial Vehicle Manager, Lex Autolease
Andy has 37 years of experience in the commercial vehicle arena, with the last 23 years in the leasing industry.
Adopting a consultative approach Andy likes to get under the skin of his customers and their businesses, understanding their challenges, needs and aspirations connected to the commercial vehicle fleet. This approach and attention to detail has helped bring innovation, efficiencies and improvements to fleets across many different industry sectors such retail, construction, facilities management, rail, passenger transport and emergency services to name just a few.
Always with an eye on health & safety, new developments, technologies and legislation Andy will ensure that any solutions he delivers are modern, safe, legally compliant, fit for purpose and as far as possible future proof to all known upcoming legislation.
Well know and highly respected in the LCV industry, Andy sits on the influential BVRLA Commercial Vehicle Committee and plays an active role in the Logistics UK Van Excellence Scheme.
Jemma James, Digital Development Director, Logistics UK
Logistics UK is the leading voice in supporting and promoting safe and efficient logistics. Sitting within the executive team, Jemma is responsible for Logistics UK’s market leading Vision compliance platform.
As former Managing Director of Microlise Group’s TruTac business, Jemma has an extensive track record in compliance systems design and management spanning 2 decades.
Jemma has a passion for road safety and technology, with a keen interest in compliance and appreciates the ever-increasing Operator challenges for all fleets.
Tim Jones, Director of Marketing, Communications and Sustainability, DPD UK
Tim Jones is Director of Marketing, Communications and Sustainability at DPD UK with over 25 years’ experience in the parcels market, the majority with DPD.
Tim and his team are responsible for marketing strategy, media relations, public affairs, internal communications and the formulation and implementation of DPD’s sustainability strategy.
DPD’s aim is to be the UK’s most sustainable delivery company. As part of Geopost, DPD UK has a Net Zero target of 2040, which is fully validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – the only delivery group to have such validation.
A third of its final mile van fleet is now electric and over 90% of its HGVs run on HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), helping DPD deliver a 48% reduction in emissions to the end of 2024, from a 2020 baseline.
During Tim’s tenure, DPD has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, become the most decorated brand in the history of the Motor Transport Awards and topped the annual Money Saving Expert parcel delivery satisfaction poll nine times – more than any other parcel delivery firm.
Will Reeves, Commercial Vehicle and Bus, Coach & Minibus Section Manager, SMMT
Will Reeves represents the hundreds of suppliers and manufacturers in UK Automotive’s commercial vehicle sector, championing their interests as the industry undergoes rapid change towards zero emission mobility.
SMMT’s Commercial Vehicle and Bus and Coach Sections provides extensive support, insight and a platform for members to gather and discuss the challenges affecting the industry, as well as representing and promoting sector and cross-sector interests to all stakeholders.
Reeves’ previous experience includes more than a decade at Logistics UK, building relationships with OEMs and suppliers. In combination with his first industry role at the Society of Operations Engineers, Reeves has seen first-hand every part of a sector that plays an essential role in the UK, providing the vans, taxi cabs, buses and trucks that keep it moving.
He also provides the lead comment SMMT’s weekly newsletter, Transport News Brief, which is dedicated to keeping readers abreast of the latest developments in the commercial vehicle industry. To sign up visit: https://www.smmt.co.uk/tnb-newsletter/
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